Heroin possessor sentenced to five years in prison

A Greenwich man who pleaded guilty to possessing heroin during a "protective sweep" of his residence was sentenced Friday to five years in prison.

Huron County Common Pleas Judge Jim Conway sentenced Scott R. Polachek, 33, of 1055 U.S. 224, to five years under the "risk reduction" program.

The program is intended for inmates who, among other things, cooperates with the risk assessment and agrees to participate in any mandated programming or treatment. If they successfully participate in the program, part of their sentence gets shaved off. If Polachek successfully completes the program, he would be eligible for release after serving four years, Conway said.

"You hope they learn something and are willing to do something about it," Leffler said, adding Polachek has a "serious heroin problem."

Leffler said he requested the judge sentence the defendant to five years in prison.

"The judge gave him a little bit of a break," the prosecutor said.

As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dismissed one count each of trafficking in heroin and possession of criminal tools.

On July 16, the U.S. Marshal's Office drug task force and Huron County Sheriff's Office searched Polachek's home when they were looking for the defendant and his 35-year-old brother on Richland County drug charges.

Authorities found 104 heroin balloons in Polachek's pants pocket and some Xanax pills in his possession.

Also seized at the house were 20 suspected crack pipes, crack cocaine, six firearms, including a loaded AK-47, and numerous rounds of ammunition, sheriff's Detective Sgt. Josh Querin said after the incident.

Polachek remains in the Huron County Jail until he is transported to prison.

Gary A. Polachek Jr., also most recently of 1055 U.S. 224, Greenwich, has a 9 a.m. Feb. 27 trial scheduled on one count each of having weapons with disability and possession of criminal tools.